Ingot mould head boxes

ABSTRACT

Head boxes for ingot moulds have lifting lugs carefully positioned to make handling simpler.

United States Patent 11 1 [111 3,756,554

Laqak 1 1 Sept. 4, 1973 INGOT MOULD HEAD BOXES [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Richard Andrew Lacjak, Bedford UNITED STATES PATENTS Heights, Ohio 3,239,187 3/1966 Daley 249 202 [73] Assigneez Foseco lnternafional Limited, 3,612,471 10/1971 Atklnson 249/202 Birmingham, England FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed; May 26 1972 149,544 ,6/1963 U.S.S.R 249/201 1,370,620 7/1964 France [21] Appl. No.: 257,251 1,414,532 9/1965 France 294/68 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin 30 W- W. H v 1 Foreign Apphcatlon Pnomy Data Attorney-John W. Malley, Paul N. KOkUllS et al.

June 24, 1971 Great Britain 29,686/71 r 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 249/202, 294/73 l 51 Int. Cl. B22d 7/10, B66c 1/10 e h carefully [58 1 Field of search...249 197-2O'2; 294/67'DC, 68, make handlmg 69 R, 73, 81 R, 82 R 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures INGOT MOULD HEAD BOXES This invention relates to ingot mould head boxes.

In the casting of molten metals, particularly steel, to form ingots, it is common practice to form the ingot mould in two portions: a mould body and a superimposed or partly superimposed (floating) head box. In use, the customary heat-insulating or exothermic hot top lining is located in the head box, and it is therefore necessary, between each use of the ingot mould, to remove the head box and line it afresh with a layer of heat-insulating or exothermic material.

This operation is difficult, both because of the weight of the head box (it must usually be handled by crane) and the fact that the head box is usually still hot when it is being relined.

A common solution to this problem is to provide on the sides of the head box, two pairs of lugs, one pair being at about the level of the centre of gravity of the head box (the centre of gravity lying on the line joining these), and the other pair being somewhat higher, when the head box is in its upright in-use position at the top of an ingot mould body.

With this arrangement, when it is desired to reline the head box, crane tongs engage the upper pair of lugs to lift the head box and then lower it into a frame in which it rests on the pair of lugs at the level of the centre of gravity. In this position, the crane tongs are disengaged, and the head box can then in theory be turned easily by hand to the inverted position for relining. In practice the head boxes are frequently difficult to turn, especially if hot. A further disadvantage is the necessity of providing a frame for each head box, which takes up valuable space, and the necessity of providing a number of frames if head boxes of differing sizes are to be treated.

According to a first feature of the present invention there is provided an ingot mould head box having a single lug on one side and two cooperating lugs at different levels on the other side, the centre of gravity of the head box lying approximately in the plane of the two lines drawn from the single lug to each of the two cooperating lugs,'and lying between those lines.

According to a specific feature of the present invention there is provided an ingot mould head box having a single cylindrical lug on one side, the axis of the single lug being at the level of the centre of gravity of the head box and two cooperating cylindrical lugs on the opposite side, the axis of one of the two lugs being above the level of the centre of gravity and of the other being below the level of the centre of gravity. The centre of gravity of the head box will lie in the plane passing through the centres of the three lugs.

Preferably the two lugs on one side are of different diameters and are arranged with the larger next to the head box casting and with its axis below the centre of gravity and with the smaller mounted on the larger. The two lugs are preferably of such size that the outer surfaces of the lugs include a common axial line that is on top when the head box is in the upright position. The single lug on the opposite side is preferably of the same diameter as the smaller of the pair, and its axial length is preferably equal to the length of the pair.

By this means, when the head box is picked up by crane tongs, so long as the lower of the two cooperating lugs is engaged, the head box, on being picked up, will rotate in the tongs to turn itself over.

By way of example, a head box according to the present invention is illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an ingot mould head box, and

FIG. 2 is an end view of the head box of FIG. 1 seen from the right hand side of that figure.

Referring to the drawings, the head box is a casting comprisinG a truncated pyramidal section extending from a base section 11 which, in use, rests on the top of the ingot mould body. At one end a boss 12 carries a cylindrical lug 13 the axis 14 of which passes through the centre of gravity 15'of the head box.

A boss 16 on the other side of the head box carries two cylindrical lugs 17 and 18, the axes 19 and 20 of which respectively pass below and above the centre of gravity 15 of the head box.

A pad 21 is provided at each top corner of the head box so that when the head box is inverted, it may be set down on the floor with some clearance.

In use, the head box, with insulating or exothermic slabs to provide a hot top, sits on top of an ingot mould body whilst steel is teemed into the mould. After solidification of the steel, the head box is picked up by a crane bail 24 having hooks 25 which located on thelugs 13 and 17, so that when the head box is lifted it is in an unbalanced condition and will automatically turn over. The head box is then lowered, inverted, onto the floor so that it rests on the pads 21. It is then in the suitable position for an operator to reline it. After the relining operation, the head box is picked up by the crane, the hooks locating on the lugs 13 and 18, so that on raising, the head box automatically turns over to its in use position, as shown in FIG. 1, and can be lowered onto the top of an ingot mould body ready for the next casting cycle.

The crane bail may be located by hand onto the desired lugs or alternatively the crane bail can be provided with hooks which are a fixed distance apart. If this is the case, then the lug 13 must be long enough for one hook to engage when the other hook is on either of the lugs 17 or 18. Also when using this system the crane operator can readily position the hooks himself in the desired position since if he is picking the head box up from the top of the mould, he can use the face 22 to locate the hooks onthe lugs 13 and 17. Similarly, if he is picking the head box up from the floor he can use the face 23 to give the desired lateral location when the hooks will then engage the lugs 13 and 18. A suitable crane bail for this purpose is shown at 24.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ingot mould head box having a single lug on one side and two cooperating lugs at different levels on the other side, the centre of gravity of the head box lying approximately in the plane of the two lines drawn from the single lug to each of the two cooperating lugs, and lying between those lines.

2. An ingot mould head box having a single cylindrical lug on one side, the axis of the single lug being at the level of the centre of gravity of the head box and two cooperating cylindrical lugs on the opposite side,

the axis of one of the two lugs being above the level of the centre of gravity and of the other being below the level of the centre of gravity..

3. A head box according to claim 2 wherein the two lugs on one side are of different diameters, the larger diameter lug being next the head box casting and hav- 5. A head box according to claim 3 whrein the one lug is of diameter equal to that of the smaller of the two lugs and of length equal to the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the cylindrical lugs include a common axial 5 two lugsline.

U TED [STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTKFICATE QF CQRRECTIQN paced September L 1973 Patent: No.

Inventofls) Richard Andrew Laojak ppears in the above-identified patent It is certified that error a hereby corrected as' shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are (l) Claim 1 should be deleted.

On the cover sheet 57 "5 Claims" should read L Claims Claims 2. thru 5 should read Claims. 1

thru 14.

Signed and sealed :this; 21st day of May 19%-.

At'best:

EDWARD H .FLETCIEBR, JR Y C MARSHALL DANN Atte sting Officer ,Comis s'ione'r of Patents USCOMM-DC 

1. An ingot mould head box having a single lug on one side and two cooperating lugs at different levels on the other side, the centre of gravity of the head box lying approximately in the plane of the two lines drawn from the single lug to each of the two cooperating lugs, and lying between those lines.
 2. An ingot mould head box having a single cylindrical lug on one side, the axis of the single lug being at the level of the centre of gravity of the head box and two cooperating cylindrical lugs on the opposite side, the axis of one of the two lugs being above the level of the centre of gravity and of the other being below the level of the centre of gravity.
 3. A head box according to claim 2 wherein the two lugs on one side are of different diameters, the larger diameter lug being next the head box casting and having its axis below the centre of gravity of the head box and the smaller diameter lug being mounted on the larger.
 4. A head box according to claim 3 wherein the outer surfaces of the cylindrical lugs include a common axial line.
 5. A head box according to claim 3 whrein the one lug is of diameter equal to that of the smaller of the two lugs and of length equal to the sum of the lengths of the two lugs. 